On the receiving end of biting criticism, Suzann Pettersen posts heartfelt apology on Instagram

A day after she drew the ire of the golf world for her actions in a Sunday fourballs match in the Solheim Cup, Norway's Suzann Pettersen nobly acknowledged her mistake in a long, plaintive post on Instagram.

Playing alongside Charley Hull in a morning match against Allison Lee and Brittany Lincicome, Pettersen controversially said Lee's short putt on the 17th green wasn't good after Lee had picked it up. The assumption from her teammate and even rules officials was that the putt was conceded, but Pettersen told officials they had never said so. The sequence directly led to a win in the match, and while it was clearly within the rules of golf, many, most notably U.S. captain Juli Inkster, said it was outside of the spirit of the game.

Pettersen acknowledged as much in her Monday post, and said she apologized directly to Inkster before leaving Germany. "I hope in time the U.S. team will forgive me and know that I have learned a valuable lesson about what is truly important in this great game of golf which has given me so much in my life," Pettersen wrote.

The regret of her actions was compounded by the Europeans squandering a four-point lead to lose the Solheim Cup.

The full text of Pettersen's post is below.

"I've never felt more gutted and truly sad about what went down Sunday on the 17th at the Solheim Cup.

"I am so sorry for not thinking about the bigger picture in the heat of the battle and competition. I was trying my hardest for my team and put the single match and the point that could be earned ahead of sportsmanship and the game of golf itself! I feel like I let my team down and I am sorry.

"To the U.S. team, you guys have a great leader in Juli , who I've always looked up to and respect so much. Knowing I need to make things 'right,' I had a face to face chat with her before leaving Germany this morning to tell her in person how

"I really feel about all of this. I wanted her also to know that I am sorry. I hope in time the U.S. team will forgive me and know that I have learned a valuable lesson about what is truly important in this great game of golf which has given me so much in my life.

"To the fans of golf who watched the competition on TV, I am sorry for the way I carried myself. I can be so much better and being an ambassador for this great game means a lot to me.

"The Solheim Cup has been a huge part of my career. I wish I could change Sunday for many reasons. Unfortunately I can't.

"This week I want to push forward toward another opportunity to earn the Solheim Cup back for Europe in the right way. And I want to work hard to earn back your belief in me as someone who plays hard, plays fair and plays the great game of golf the right way."